Come Next Spring. 1956. USA. Directed by R. G. Springsteen. With Ann Sheridan, Steve Cochran, Walter Brennan. DCP. 92 min.
Tired of playing psychotic gangsters for Warner Bros. (White Heat, The Damned Don’t Cry), the actor Steve Cochran started his own independent production company with the hope of tackling ambitious fare like this rural drama of redemption, which Cochran planned to direct himself. By the time the project landed at Republic, however, direction was assigned to studio regular R. G. Springsteen (Hellfire), who brought an unexpected warmth and intimacy to this story of an Arkansas drifter (Cocharn) who attempts to return to the wife (Ann Sheridan) and children he deserted years earlier.